Was there Social Security fraud in Jonestown?

The short answer is no.

On 18 December 1978 — one month after the deaths in Jonestown — the U.S. Embassy in Guyana released a list of 656 uncashed government checks which were recovered from the jungle community site. The Embassy compilation — including the check numbers, their date of issuance, the names and Social Security numbers of their recipients, the check amounts, and their designation as Social Security benefits — was reprinted in The Assassination of Representative Leo J. Ryan and the Jonestown, Guyana Tragedy, the May 1979 report of the Staff Investigative Group of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In a letter of 26 April 1979 to the House committee — also reprinted in the May 1979 report — Social Security Administration Acting Director John P. McHale said his agency had “identified 199 SSA beneficiaries who were in Jonestown, Guyana at the time of the disaster.” Since the letter did not include the names, we compiled an independent tally, which arrived at an approximate number, 203 SSA beneficiaries. However, we cannot say whether the names on the lists below match those of the SSA.

A few of the 656 uncashed checks dated from as early as spring 1978, but most bore dates from the fall of 1978. In order to get a snapshot of Peoples Temple income from Social Security, we chose the month of September, and listed everyone who received their SSA benefits when those checks were issued on 3 October 1978. (A few September checks were issued on 2 October, although most of those apparently covered Cost Of Living Adjustments [COLA] that were added to benefits for future months.)

The following lists break down our analysis of SSA beneficiaries and other seniors in Jonestown:

List 1 is of the 173 individual beneficiaries or wards who received SSA checks in September 1978 (including 16 beneficiaries who received two checks).

List 2 is of the 9 Social Security recipients in Jonestown for whom no September check was found, but who were named on checks for other months.

List 3 is of the 21 Jonestown residents who do not appear on the Embassy tally, but who, according to records maintained by Peoples Temple, had received Social Security benefits while living in the United States. Why they no longer received benefits — or alternatively, why the checks they may have received were cashed and those of the others were not — is unknown. The total for these three lists of SSA beneficiaries is 199. The total for these three lists (1, 2, 3) of SSA beneficiaris is 203.

List 4 is of the 18 Jonestown residents who were over 65 but for whom we have been unable to locate any record that they ever received Social Security benefits, whether in the U.S. or Guyana. Again, the reason for the apparent lack of benefits to these people is unknown.

There are several reasons for compiling these lists. First, they show how much the Social Security recipients — especially the seniors — contributed to the day-to-day functioning of the Jonestown community of which they were part. The total amount of $36,548.30 from the 191 checks to the 173 people on List 1 was not the same every month, but it approximates what the Temple leadership knew it could depend upon each month for the agricultural mission at Jonestown. As a corollary, it shows the gravity of the threat the community perceived from Temple antagonists, especially the Concerned Relatives, who had lobbied the Social Security Administration — as well as the Customs Service, the U.S. Postal Service, the Treasury Department¹s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Internal Revenue Service — to launch investigations of the Temple.

Finally, these lists reveal that, on the surface at least, there was little (if any) fraud regarding the legitimacy of Social Security benefits. Jonestown was apparently complying with its obligations to notify the SSA of deaths in the community, since the only uncashed check for Chotile Butler, who had died of natural causes earlier that year, dated from March. With one notable exception, the identity of everyone else on the Embassy compilation is known. Only the name of Clara Winters is unknown to us, and that may be due to the lack of completion to our research into Peoples Temple dead and surviving members.

List 1. Social Security Checks to Jonestown residents for September 1978

Name

SSN

Date of Check

$ Amount

1. Stephen M. Addison (3)

303-46-0172

3 Oct 78

526.20

2. Ida M. Albudy

487-01-1159

3 Oct 78

255.60 (1)

3. Samuel M. Anderson

437-09-2867

3 Oct 78

181.80

4. Luberta Arnold

435-07-4659

3 Oct 78

166.70

5. Ruth Atkins

496-10-9508

3 Oct 78

126.60

6. Geraldine H. Bailey

454-03-4909

3 Oct 78

100.80

7. Christine E. Bates

464-14-0063

3 Oct 78

267.40

8. Geneva Beal (3)

428-01-8599

3 Oct 78

187.70 (1)

9. Alfred Bell

430-22-6843

3 Oct 78

328.10

10. Ethel Belle

062-22-7393

3 Oct 78

209.00

11. Julia Birkley

184-07-2441

2 Oct 78

8.20

11a. Julia Birkley

184-07-2441

3 Oct 78

153.40

12. Odell Blackwell

299-10-4079

3 Oct 78

346.40 (1)

13. Willie L. Bowie

546-32-8316

3 Oct 78

176.70

14. Debbie Schroeder for Georgiann Brady (3)

548-56-3806 (9)

3 Oct 78

73.20

15. Maureen Fitch for Michel [Michele] Brady (3)

548-56-3806 (9)

3 Oct 78

73.20

16. Michaeleen Brady (3)

548-56-3806 (9)

3 Oct 78

259.60

17. Miller Bridgewater

462-14-6771

3 Oct 78

369.30

18. Princeola Bryant

557-20-4404

3 Oct 78

157.00

19. Zelline O. Bryant [sic. name is O’Bryant]

565-42-7169

3 Oct 78

150.30

20. Mildred Carroll

155-14-2055

2 Oct 78

8.20

20a. Mildren Carroll

155-14-2055

3 Oct 78

184.80

21. Ruby J. Carroll

462-58-4023 (9)

3 Oct 78

224.80

22. Ruby J. Carroll for Robert K. Carroll [Johnson]

462-58-4023 (9)

3 Oct 78

116.50

23. Jossie Chambliss

057-18-2089

3 Oct 78

112.80 (1)

24. Joicy E. Clark

460-16-1906

3 Oct 78

120.00

25. Leola Clarke

568-20-5356

3 Oct 78

238.50 (1)

26. Nancy Clay

466-12-3550

3 Oct 78

319.80

27. Ida M. Clipps (3)

450-20-9515

3 Oct 78

244.00

28. Alma Coachman (3)

439-28-5815

3 Oct 78

188.00

29. Arlander Cole

426-09-8340

3 Oct 78

342.90

30. Arvella Cole

427-36-5314

3 Oct 78

194.70

31. Mary Coleman

162-20-6607

3 Oct 78

121.10

32. Susie L. Collins

439-34-2413

3 Oct 78

187.30

33. Inez S. Conedy

444-16-3639

3 Oct 78

379.70

34. Bertha P. Cook

548-28-8879

3 Oct 78

209.00

35. Edith E. Cordell

303-12-2557

3 Oct 78

156.10

36. Mary Cottingham

251-26-9583

3 Oct 78

152.90 (1)

37. Millie S. Cunningham

258-48-4173

2 Oct 78

8.20

37a. Millie S. Cunningham

258-48-4173

3 Oct 78

123.00

38. Najuandrienne Darnes (3)

462-54-3532

3 Oct 78

252.80 (1a)

38a. Najuandrienne Darnes

462-54-3532

3 Oct 78

126.40 (1a)

39. Hazel F. Dashiell

037-18-9457

3 Oct 78

352.60

40. Lexie S. Davis

464-18-8045

3 Oct 78

315.30

41. Beatrice J. Dawkins (3)

490-20-5807

3 Oct 78

243.60

42. Edith F. Delaney

524-03-0457

3 Oct 78

311.70

43. Lovie H. De Pina

145-07-0053

3 Oct 78

131.00

44. Bessie L. Dickson (3)

463-16-7544

3 Oct 78

205.90

45. Katherine M. Domineck

460-01-9261

3 Oct 78

352.60

46. Farene Douglas

511-07-7428

3 Oct 78

141.50

47. Corrie Duncan

464-24-1023

3 Oct 78

106.90

48. Irene Eddins

440-18-1621

3 Oct 78

99.10 (1)

49. Zipporah Edwards

304-26-4141

3 Oct 78

233.10

50. Amanda Fair

553-14-6607

3 Oct 78

170.50

51. Sylvester C. Fair

450-26-3373

3 Oct 78

372.70

52. Marshall Farris

429-05-3245

3 Oct 78

381.10

53. Beulah Foster

426-40-3745

3 Oct 78

281.50

54. Attie [sic. name is Mattie] Gibson

410-26-9220

3 Oct 78

163.40

55. Irma L. Gill

429-34-4050

3 Oct 78

130.00 (1)

56. Raymond O. Godshalk (3)

555-07-4198

3 Oct 78

308.70

57. Claude Goodspeed

463-16-6315 (9)

3 Oct 78

333.50

58. Lue D. Goodspeed

463-16-6315 (9)

3 Oct 78

150.30 (1)

59.Estella M. Railback for Mae K. Griffith (3)

457-26-5033 (9)

3 Oct 78

111.10

60. Mary M. Griffith for Marian L. Griffth (3)

437-26-5442

3 Oct 78

267.20

61. Mercedese M. Guidry

439-26-5550

3 Oct 78

117.10

62. Carl G. Hall

568-18-9611

3 Oct 78

373.50

63. Artee Harper

437-09-5543

3 Oct 78

203.70

64. Ollie B. Harrington (3)

428-70-2459

3 Oct 78

291.00

65. Annie M. Harris

437-26-8365

3 Oct 78

146.90

66. Josephine Harris

357-07-5154

3 Oct 78

101.60

67. Nevada Harris

465-32-6333

3 Oct 78

188.20

68. Willie M. Harris (3)

253-16-0266

3 Oct 78

174.80 (1b)

68a. Willie M. Harris

253-16-0266

3 Oct 78

174.80

69. Joseph Helle (3)

544-24-9228

3 Oct 78

149.30

70. Nena D. Herring

548-03-9351

3 Oct 78

256.10

71. Emma M. Hill (3)

454-24-1452

3 Oct 78

146.20

72. Hazel Horne (3)

200-20-0447

3 Oct 78

121.80

73. Beatrice A. Jackson

557-34-9632

3 Oct 78

195.70

74. Dave B. Jackson

435-05-5208

3 Oct 78

307.10

75. Donald Jackson (3)

438-64-3394

3 Oct 78

494.70 (1)

76. Rosa L. Jackson (3) for Leticia L. Jackson (3)

449-38-8571

10 Oct 78

274.20

77. Luvenia Jackson

435-05-5208

3 Oct 78

138.20

78. Rosa L. Jackson

449-38-8571

10 Oct 78

237.00 (1)

79. Lavana James

467-52-1190

3 Oct 78

109.50

80. Margaret James (3)

124-16-6941

3 Oct 78

336.00 (1)

81. Eartis Jeffery

450-20-4230 (9)

3 Oct 78

134.10

82. Margrette Jeffery

450-20-4230 (9)

3 Oct 78

66.00

83. Berda T. Johnson

564-16-4496

3 Oct 78

113.60

84. Earl Johnson

440-12-6910

3 Oct 78

130.00

85. Vennie Thompson for Garnett B. Johnson (3)

500-18-1647

3 Oct 78

244.20

86. Helen Johnson (3)

437-38-6670

2 Oct 78

8.20

86a. Helen Johnson

437-38-6670

3 Oct 78

133.20

87. Jessie Johnson

440-26-1483

3 Oct 78

209.00

88. Mahaley Johnson

457-38-5678

3 Oct 78

237.10

89. Ruby L. Johnson (3)

464-50-9154

3 Oct 78

211.90

90. Eliza Jones

526-28-8756

3 Oct 78

121.80

91. Nancy M. Jones

430-70-3159

3 Oct 78

90.30

92. Dessie Jordan

547-28-9725

3 Oct 78

185.40

93. Fannie Jordan

433-56-1779

2 Oct 78

8.20

93a. Fannie Jordan

433-56-1779

3 Oct 78

214.20

94. Emma Jurado

434-24-0616

3 Oct 78

225.70

95. Rosa L. Keaton

563-30-8822

3 Oct 78

343.90

96. Tommie S. Keaton Sr. (3)

452-07-3010

3 Oct 78

342.60

97. Viola B. Kelley (2)

492-09-5056

3 Oct 78

215.40

98. Elfreida Kendall

453-28-7761

3 Oct 78

241.30

99. Charlotte King

568-24-0133

3 Oct 78

119.40

100. Pearl Land

461-12-0179

3 Oct 78

194.40 (1)

101. Lossie M. Lang

452-16-4351

3 Oct 78

114.40

102. Heavenly H. Love

177-28-8480

3 Oct 78

106.20 (1)

103. Lovelife Lowe

088-42-5801

3 Oct 78

208.00 (1)

104. Lovie Jean Lucas

567-28-7088

2 Oct 78

8.20

104a. Lovie Jean Lucas

567-28-7088

3 Oct 78

112.40

105. Lillian E. Malloy

124-14-0111

3 Oct 78

256.50

106. Irene Mason

421-24-4439

3 Oct 78

207.80

107. Mary Mayshack

435-05-7625

3 Oct 78

214.50

108. Allie McClain

430-38-8524

3 Oct 78

113.60

109. Annie J. McGowan

355-01-1484

3 Oct 78

204.70

110. Levatus McKinnis

437-20-9204

2 Oct 78

9.00

110a. Levatus McKinnis

437-20-9204

3 Oct 78

412.50

111. Henry Mercer

199-03-7717

3 Oct 78

309.30

112. Lucy Miller

421-42-9554

3 Oct 78

77.30

113. Callie Mae Mitchell

573-03-9362

3 Oct 78

101.50

114. Edward Moore (3)

435-12-5944

3 Oct 78

206.20

115. Pearley Morris

428-05-7925

2 Oct 78

8.20

115a. Pearley Morris

428-05-7925

3 Oct 78

80.10

116. Lugenia Morrison (3)

461-26-5632 (9)

3 Oct 78

147.00

116a. Lugenia Morrison (3) for children of J. Morrison

461-26-5632 (9)

3 Oct 78

147.00

117. Eura L. Moses

549-24-7040

3 Oct 78

225.30

118. Glen Moton

263-05-7316

3 Oct 78

287.20

119. Esther Mueller

303-26-4442

3 Oct 78

171.60

120. Mary Murphy

385-26-7009

3 Oct 78

107.70 (1)

121. Ida M. Nichols

367-26-9838

2 Oct 78

8.20 (1c)

121a. Ida M. Nichols

367-26-9838

3 Oct 78

[illegible]

122. Jane Owens (3)

510-12-5707

2 Oct 78

8.20

122a. Jane Owens

510-12-5707

3 Oct 78

156.40

123. Beatrice Parker

096-03-0411

3 Oct 78

345.00

124. Lore B. Parris

490-14-8308

3 Oct 78

219.90

125. Lucille E. Payney

568-12-2637

3 Oct 78

259.60

126. Lenora Perkins

548-30-8151

3 Oct 78

162.50

127. Rosey L. Peterson

549-38-5158

3 Oct 78

177.90

128. Oreen Poplin

466-05-6300

3 Oct 78

359.80

129. Eva H. Pugh

304-01-7850

3 Oct 78

479.20

130. Estella M. Railback

457-26-5033 (9)

3 Oct 78

209.00

131. Willie B. Reed

423-16-8734

2 Oct 78

8.20

131a. Willie B. Reed

423-16-8734

3 Oct 78

112.10

132. Bertha Reese

449-32-5572

3 Oct 78

227.60

133. L. Bee Reeves

351-03-3642

3 Oct 78

269.90

134. Gladys Roberts

564-36-6628

3 Oct 78

284.40

135. Mary [Flavia] Rodgers

547-30-4649

3 Oct 78

264.90

136. Edith F. Roller (3)

524-05-2230

3 Oct 78

260.20

137. Elsie Ross

466-12-6011

3 Oct 78

113.60

138. Lula M. Ruben

464-30-1169

3 Oct 78

154.20

139. Flora B. Sanders

567-30-0464

3 Oct 78

185.40

140. Pauline Scott (3)

214-26-7043

3 Oct 78

164.30

141. Rose O. Sharon

185-44-3527

3 Oct 78

184.40

142. Rose J. Shelton

548-38-8705

3 Oct 78

274.90 (1)

143. Jose Simon

548-22-9700

3 Oct 78

269.90

144. Bertha Smith

437-12-4033

2 Oct 78

8.20

144a. Bertha Smith

437-12-4033

3 Oct 78

209.20

145. Vernon Smith (3)

457-05-5188

3 Oct 78

167.80

146. Eloise Sneed

449-10-6349

3 Oct 78

257.80

147. Helen Snell

464-10-8551

3 Oct 78

213.10

148. Alfred R. Stahl

310-03-8968 (9)

3 Oct 78

318.40

149. Carol A. Stahl (3)

310-03-8968 (9)

3 Oct 78

157.80

150. Carol A. Stahl (3) for Bonnie L. Stahl (3)

310-03-8968 (9)

3 Oct 78

157.80

151. Abraham L. Staten

223-24-5162

3 Oct 78

390.80

152. Ameal Staten

435-30-8092

3 Oct 78

205.10

153. Adeleine M. Strider

568-24-4025

3 Oct 78

263.60 (1)

154. Cleave L. Swinney

303-10-4049

3 Oct 78

280.10

155. Bernell M. Tardy

570-18-9112

3 Oct 78

155.60

156. Lillian M. Taylor

565-12-2482

3 Oct 78

180.00 (1)

157. Lucille B. Taylor

564-36-8501

3 Oct 78

206.70

158. Virginia V. Taylor

205-12-2261

3 Oct 78

112.10

159. Bernice Thomas

494-30-7132

3 Oct 78

100.90

160. Ernest Thomas (3)

464-18-4492

3 Oct 78

353.20

161. Etta Thompson

450-20-5494

3 Oct 78

218.20 (1)

162. Vennie Thompson

436-44-0348

3 Oct 78

109.90

163. Essie Townes

554-50-7066

2 Oct 78

8.20

163a. Essie Townes

554-50-7066

3 Oct 78

132.10

164. Alfred W. Tschetter (3)

545-48-0030

3 Oct 78

375.60

165. Martha Turner

556-34-6783

3 Oct 78

134.80

166. Roberta Wade

525-40-9358

3 Oct 78

89.80 (1)

167. Mary N. Walker

566-52-7362

3 Oct 78

117.50

168. Eddie Washington

548-44-3253

3 Oct 78

217.20

169. Bessie M. Wesley (3)

573-09-2371

3 Oct 78

103.30

170. Louise Williams

463-34-2951

2 Oct 78

8.20

170a. Louise Williams

463-34-2951

3 Oct 78

264.20

171. Theo Williams (3)

459-03-8056

3 Oct 78

222.40

172. Erma M. Winfrey

547-30-0322

3 Oct 78

109.70

173. Leomy Wright (3)

428-22-0096 (9)

3 Oct 78

34.90

173a. Leomy Wright (3) for children of C. H. Wright

428-22-0096 (9)

3 Oct 78

69.80

List 2. Other Checks to Social Security Recipients Recovered from Jonestown
(no September check)

1. Chotile Butler (5)

Died earlier in 1978, only check dated March 1978

2. Armondo Griffith

One Social Security check for August; same SSN as Mary M. Giffith

3. Leroy Jackson (4)

One Social Security check, for October; same SSN as Rosa L. Jackson

4. Bossie Jones

Two Social Security checks, for June and July. Appears on death list, but other information is scant; perhaps died in Jonestown before 18 November 1978?

5. Jessie B. McNeal

One Social Security check, for October

6. Virginia Middleton (3)

One Social Security check, for October

7. Richard Wade (4)

One Social Security check, for July; same SSN as Roberta Wade

8. Annie Washington

Two Social Security checks, for July and August, each $122.60

9. Clara (?) Winters (4)

Two Social Security checks, for July and August, each $141.40

List 3. Other Jonestown Residents Who Had Received SSA Benefits While Living in the United States

Name

Date of Birth

1.Orelia Anderson

6/8/1910

2. Vivian Anderson (5)

1/1/1909

3. Lena Mae Camp Benton

11/24/1909

4. Madeleine Josephine Brooks (6)

12/15/1904

5. Isabel Davis

12/14/1906

6. Miguel De Pina (6)

9/19/1894

7. Eugenia Gernandt

3/12/1923

8. Juanita Green (3)

9/5/1916

9. Heloise Janice Hall (6)

12/7/1911

10. Dorothy Lasheene Harris (3,6)

1/17/1961

11. Mabel Ellen Walker Hines (6)

12/29/1912

12. Phyllis Houston (3)

3/26/1944

13. Robert Johnson

12/8/1903

14. Emma Addie Kennedy

10/28/1911

15. Gertrude Nailor

3/21/1910

16. Plickards Norris (5)

10/31/1905

17. Odenia Adams Roberson

3/19/1905

18. Novella Novice Sneed

6/18/1907

19. Vera Talley

2/3/1903

20. Hyacinth Thrash (6)

4/25/1902

21. Mary Pearl Willis (3)

12/21/1940

List 4. Jonestown Seniors for whom No SSA Benefits Are Listed, either in U.S. or Guyana

Name

Date of Birth

1. Lillian Boyd Alexander

2/17/1906

2. Mary Francis Canada

1/20/1901

3. Grover Davis Cleveland

1/22/1899

4. Florine Dyson (7)

12/6/1890

5. Ever Rejoicing, aka Amanda Poindexter

10/9/1881

6. Helen Ford, aka Helen Love

11/6/1900

7. Herman W. Gee

3/27/1897

8. Emmett Alexander Griffith, Jr. (5)

4/13/1911

9. Osialee Hilton

1/4/1894

10. Lynetta Jones (5)

unknown

11. Lula Elizabeth Jordan

11/25/1970

12. Love M. Joy

12/18/1891

13. Georgia Lee Lacy

2/9/1910

14. Alluvine McGowan

3/13/1888

15. Earl McKnight

2/18/1895

16. Lela Murphy (8)

7/17/1897

17. Syola Williams Turner

6/27/1912

18. Carolyn Young

9/1/1900

Notes:

(1) When a SSA recipient received two checks in one month, the lesser amount appears to be a COLA payment for September (since the lesser amount is then included in the October check). The exceptions to this are:

(1a) Najuandrienne Darnes, who received two checks for the same amount each month.

(1b) Willie M. Harris, who received two checks for the same amount each month.

(1c) Ida M. Nichols, whose primary September check is illegible, but whose August and October checks are the same amount ($121.80)

(2) Viola Kelley is listed as receiving only one SSA check, for September.

(3) While most Social Security recipients were men and women over 65, there were 43 recipients of Social Security checks who were younger. Another three had received SSA checks in the U.S., but not in Guyana.

(4) These three listed recipients were not on any death or survivor lists of Peoples Temple members in Guyana in November 1978. Two recipients (Leroy Jackson and Richard Wade) had the same Social Security numbers as their spouses (Rosa L. Jackson and Roberta Wade, respectively), and these spouses received subsequent checks in their own name. The third, Clara Winters (whose first name is a guess, since the telegram had been photocopied into illegibility at several points) is unknown.

(5) Six people are known to have died in Jonestown of natural causes before the events of 18 November 1978.

(6) Six of the 15 people who received SSA benefits in the U.S. — but who have no listing in the Embassy telegram of 18 December 1978 — had immediate family relatives who did receive benefits in Guyana. Madeleine Brooks, Dorothy Harris, and Hyacinth Thrash had sisters; Miguel De Pina, Heloise Hall and Mabel Hines were married to recipients.

(7) While Florine Dyson received no SSA benefits, she did receive VA benefits, at least while living in the U.S. The VA benefit seemingly did not transfer to Guyana.

(8) Lela Murphy was born in Canada, which may explain why she didn’t receive SSA benefits.

(9) Many family members at that time had the same SSN, shared with parents or spouse. This is no longer the practice.Report Prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III